Councillor Phillip Pope decided to end his term as mayor of St Ives by completing a sponsored weight loss, which saw him shed six stone in just nine weeks.

The outgoing mayor decided to set himself the challenge as a way of raising some funds for his chosen mayoral charities.

Cllr Pope asked people for sponsorship to go towards his charity fundraising, and support him in his bid to shed the pounds, with his target set at an ambitious five stone.

The results of his weight loss challenge were revealed to him and members of the public at the mayor making ceremony held last Wednesday (May 16), where he was shocked to find out he had actually lost six stone in nine weeks.

He said: “I decided that I wanted to raise just a little bit more money for the mayor’s charity funds so thought why not do this? I have wanting to lose weight for a while now and want to try and show people that it is possible.

Cllr Pope said: “I don’t consider myself a role model, but wanted to show the younger generation that I am doing something positive and it is all for charity which is the main thing. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to raise the money.

“I had no idea how much I had lost until the mayor making where my consultant revealed it. I was so shocked that I managed to lose that much weight.

“The diet that I was recommended to try by my doctor was a meal replacement diet, where I had four shakes everyday and then one 400 calorie meal. It was so hard for the first four or five days, but after that I have actually found it alright.

“I do want to continue losing the weight, but more gradually. I want to show people that they can do it, and I know I have a long way to go but hopefully it can inspire people.

Overall Cllr Pope raised £2,000 from the challenge, and over his term as mayor raised more than £9,000.

His chosen charities include; Macmillan Woodlands Centre, Acorn Cancer Support Group, St Ives Rotary Club youth team, St Ives Youth Centre and Magpas Air Ambulance.

Cllr Pope said: “It has been a great honour to be the mayor of St Ives and I have everyone to thank for being so helpful and supportive.”